Abstract Purpose This study aims to analyze the relationship between the nonpathological traits of narcissism and decisions under conditions of uncertainty and risk in light of the prospect (PT) and fuzzy-trace theories (FTT). Design/methodology/approach This paper conducted an empirical-theoretical study with 210 Brazilian academics from the business area (accountants and managers), using a self-reported questionnaire to collect data. This paper analyzed the data through descriptive statistical techniques, correlation, test of hypotheses and logistic regression. Findings The results point to a lower disposition of respondents to narcissistic traits, although the characteristics of self-sufficiency, authority, exploitation and superiority have been demonstrated. Most participants chose the sure gain in positive scenarios and risk in light of possibility of losses. However, those with high levels of narcissism showed higher propensity to make risky decisions, both in positive and negative scenarios. Research limitations/implications The empirical results about risky decision-making behavior of individuals with narcissist traits spur further investigation on the impacts of attitudes and behaviors in organizations as they are affected by psychosocial factors. These attitudes and behaviors, reflected in administrative and financial reports, influence future decisions of investors. Originality/value The interaction between the areas of business administration and psychology in regard to the effects of the narcissist personality trait and the FTT is both original and valuable for the business area. The simplest scenario based on the FTT theory can help eliminate issues around the interpretation and complexities of calculations regarding decision-making scenarios in PT format.

RESUMO Este artigo analisa a relação entre a maximização de ganhos pessoais e empresariais e os traços moderados do Dark Triad. A relevância da escolha do tema recai sobre a investigação da atitude de executivos que exibem características com intensidade moderada entre os altos e baixos traços. Comprova-se que a visão e o carisma do indivíduo narcisista, a estratégia e tática do indivíduo maquiavelista e a criatividade e o bom pensamento estratégico do indivíduo psicopata são características diferenciadoras que potencializam uma liderança bem-sucedida e integradora - distante de atitudes negativas mais acentuadas e oportunísticas, concernentes aos altos traços, cujas práticas evidenciam ações desonestas para ganho pessoal. Tais evidências proporcionam a possibilidade de fortalecimento das pesquisas na área contábil, em especial da abordagem comportamental, por promover sua interface com a psicologia para esclarecer como a personalidade, os valores e as experiências influenciam as escolhas dos gestores na condução do negócio e como os funcionários e as empresas são impactados por essas decisões. Trata-se de pesquisa empírico-teórica, realizada com 263 gerentes, adotando o survey como estratégia de coleta de dados - com aplicação de questionário do tipo autorrelato. As abordagens de análise de dados foram: estatística descritiva, correlação, teste de médias e regressão logística. Neste estudo, gestores com traços moderados de Psicopatia evidenciaram menor disposição a maximizar ganhos por meio da manipulação de resultados. Disposição contrária foi revelada para aqueles com traços moderados de Maquiavelismo. O efeito combinado entre os três traços do Dark Triad foi significativo e positivo, com a maximização oportunística de ganhos. Tais achados contribuem com futuras pesquisas que almejem analisar de modo sistemático o nível moderado da tríade e corroboram os achados que revelaram as características comuns de manipulação, insensibilidade e desonestidade quando se investiga o efeito interativo entre os traços em questão.

ABSTRACT This article analyzes the relationship between the maximization of personal and company gains and the moderate traits of the Dark Triad. The relevance of choosing this topic lies in investigating the attitude of executives who exhibit characteristics of a moderate intensity between the strong and weak traits. It is proven that the vision and charisma of narcissistic individuals, the strategy and tactics of Machiavellian individuals, and the creativity and good strategic thinking of psychopathic individuals are differentiating characteristics that enhance successful and integrative leadership and that are far from the more accentuated and opportunistic attitudes related to the strong traits, whose practices involve dishonest actions for personal gain. This evidence creates the possibility for strengthening the research in the accounting area, especially on the behavioral approach, in order to promote its interface with psychology and clarify how personality, values, and experiences influence managers’ choices when conducting business and how workers and companies are impacted by these decisions. The study is empirical-theoretical and involves 263 managers, adopting a survey as its data collection strategy and applying a self-reporting type questionnaire. The data analysis approaches included descriptive statistics, correlations, tests of means, and logistic regressions. In this study, managers with moderate psychopathic traits showed a lower tendency to maximize profit by manipulating results. An opposite tendency was revealed for those with moderate Machiavellian traits. The combined effect of the three Dark Triad traits was significant and positive, revealing opportunistic profit maximization. These findings contribute to future studies that aim to systematically analyze moderate levels of the triad and corroborate the findings that have revealed the common characteristics of manipulation, callousness, and dishonesty when investigating the interactive effect between the traits in question.